Living with Osteoporosis

When we choose our diets and plan our exercise routines, we rarely think about how our actions will affect our skeletal system. We are usually more inclined to concentrate on burning fat and building muscle, both of which are important factors in our lives. But what happens when you find out that your lifestyle has adversely affected your bones and joints?

Osteoperosis, which is a deteriation of the bones, is most common in women ages 45 and older. Many times, the onset of the disease occurs just after menopause, when the body systems become weak. Doctors advise that women approaching this time in their lives perform weight-bearing exercises at least three times weekly and take lots of calcium, which aides in the strengthening of the bones.

My situation is different. I have had Osteoperosis since I was sixteen years old, and it was a by-product of other illnesses that eventually accumulated in bone density deficiency. I probably would never have known except that I broke my ankle - pulvarized it, actually - and when the surgeon went in to reconstruct the damage, he found that my bones were soft to the touch. Afterwards, I was given a bone biopsy (where they extract a piece of bone from the hip for tests) and a bone density exam (an x-ray-type test that measures the density of all of the bones in the body). Then, I was given a prescription for Actonel, which helps the bones to absorb calcium and other nutrients.

Osteoperosis is a disease that is often talked about, but rarely seriously considered. Doctors have told me that a rather high percentage of people who develop Osteoperosis didn't even realize that it was an issue until they were diagnosed. At that point, however, there is no way to reverse the damage. It is nearly impossible to replace lost bone, so prevention is the key.

Exercise increases bone mass before menopause and helps to reduce bone loss after menopause. Bone strengthening should increase with regular exercise; to help prevent bone loss, weight-bearing exercises such as walking, low-impact aerobics, or tennis work best. An adequate calcium intake is also essential to the prevention of Osteoporosis. Good sources of calcium include dairy products, leafy green vegetables, nuts, and seafood. And if you are like most people, you only receive about half the amount of necessary calcium every day, so supplements such as Nature's Benefit are highly advisable. Women over 50 require 1500 mg of calcium if they are not taking estrogen and 1000 mg if they are taking estrogen. Drugstore.com offers a wide variety of calcium supplements.

If you have already been diagnosed with Osteoperosis, preventative measures must still be taken. It is a progressive disease, meaning that your condition is not the end-all, be-all of bone loss. You can still take action against further damage to your skeletal system and increase average bone density. Your physicial can help regulate your diet and give you ideas for possible weight-bearing exercises. He can also schedule a bone density scan to determine the actual extent of the damage already done to your bones.